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Search:	Classifieds \| Place an Ad	May 9, 2008

Incline fire chief: Stream zone reduction work needed

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Bonanza Photo - Jen Schmidt Chief Brown discusses the accomplishments of the bi-state fire commission, including setting uniform defensible space standards for the entire Lake Tahoe Basin.

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March 26, 2008

North Lake Tahoe Fire Protection District Chief Mike Brown sits on the California-Nevada Blue Ribbon Fire Commission. Bonanza reporter Kyle Magin sat down with Chief Brown Tuesday morning to get his thoughts on his service thus far on the bi-state commission.

Question: What were the major goals of the Blue ribbon commission?

Answer: Our goal has been to make fuels reduction easier on the public and to find ways to provide education on removal of fuels.

Q. Are you pleased with the commission's work to make defensible space uniform across the basin?

A. From a fire chief's prospective we're very comfortable with the findings and recommendations. California 4291 (California public resource code 4291) has been approved for adoption by every Basin fire agency. That will make what fire agencies on the California and Nevada sides of the lake do in terms of defensible space and best management practices the same.

Q. Fuels reduction in stream zones was a concern going into the Commission. What has been done to alleviate those concerns and make sure stream zones are treated for defensible space?

A. While that's more of a California issue, it's obvious we need to get into stream zones for fuels reduction purposes. The commission was able to get a permit waived to do reduction work in stream zones. What we need to work on now is deciding what the best way to treat stream zones are, whether that is with hand crews, mechanical clearing of controlled burns.

Q. What will be the greatest benefit for Nevada that comes out of the commission's work?

A. There are a few things, starting with the adoption of California PRC 4291 for the whole basin.

Also, we've tried to streamline the permit process for people to get fuels reduction on their property. We also have worked on a granting process where private homeowners can receive a percentage-based credit on defensible space done on their property. Basically that means that if you have a house and you hire a company to work on your property, your local fire agency will match a percentage of that cost up to $1,000.

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